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Heritage Open Days are returning this September! The two week long event is England’s largest festival of history and culture and is a chance to us to find out more about the heritage of our communities and explore local places that aren’t often open to the public.
This year’s event will take place between 10th – 19th September with a theme of Edible England with a real focus on heritage food production, local delicacies and more. There are a whole host of event all over the country, but we’ve pulled together a few suggestions to give you an idea of what to look forward to!
John Bunyan Museum
Bunyan Meeting, Mill Street, Bedford, Bedfordshire MK40 3EU
Being held both online and in person this event gives you the chance to take part in family trails, handling sessions and foodie demonstrations.
There is level access to the foyer, shop and Bunyan Meeting Church. The museum and Ampthill Room where there are additional activities are on the first floor whicl can be accessed via a chair lift. There is level access throughout the gallery and first floor and accessible toilets on the ground floor near the entrance. The museum itself has full wheelchair access and assistance dogs are welcome.
Event: 18th September, 11am – 4pm
Find out more here.
Shaw House
Church Road, Shaw, Newbury, Berkshire RG14 2DR
Join the team in the Great Hall to find out more about the history of the house with the opportunity to access many areas which are not normally open to the public, no booking required!
The site is fully wheelchair accessible, with both disabled parking and accessible toilets. There are hearing loops throughout the site and assistance dogs are welcome.
Event: 11th and 12th September. The house and grounds are open from 11am – 4pm on both days with talks taking place throughout the day. See more here.
The National Paralympic Heritage Centre
Stoke Mandeville Sports Stadium, Harvey Road, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire HP21 9PP
Bring Paralympic heritage to life by exploring the games’ history and handling the collection of torches, costumes, medals and mascots.
The site is wheelchair accessible with parking and accessible facilities as well as having hearing loops installed and sign language interpreters.
Event: 12th September, 11am – 1pm
For more information, click here.
Bletchley Park
Bletchley Park, Sherwood Drive, Bletchley, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire MK3 6EB
Home to the top secret code breakers of the Second World War, this site is open every day to visitors. For Heritage Open Days there are 200 free tickets per day available. Tickets need to be prebooked via the Bletchley Park website. The site has wheelchair access throughout as well as disabled parking and accessible toilet facilities. Assistance dogs are welcome and there are hearing loops and sign language interpreters onsite.
Event: 10th – 19th September, 9.30am – 5pm
Edible England at Madingley Hall Gardens
University of Cambridge, Madingley Hall, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire CB23 8AQ
Featuring food, walks and talks this is a chance to find out more about edible plants, foraging and also sampling homemade, seasonal dishes from the Madingley Hall Chefs.
The site has full wheelchair access and accessibile facilities.
Event: 18th September, 10am – 4pm.
More here.
George and his Chocolate Factory
9 Jesus Lane, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire CB5 8BA
A chance to find out how George Cadbury transformed the lives of factory workers and chocolate. The event is hosted by the Cambridge Quakers and must be booked in advance here. The site has full wheelchair access and accessible facilities.
Find out more.
Edible England at Warrington Museum
Golden Square Shopping Centre, Warrington, Cheshire
Meet a member of the museum’s curators about how people ate and drank in the past and how historical objects can tell us more about the history of food.
No booking is required and there is full wheelchair access, visitors maybe asked to wear a face mask while inside, so please have any proof of exemption to hand.
Event: 15th September, 2pm – 4pm
More details here.
Lydiard Walled Garden
Lydiard Park Mansion, Lydiard Tregoze, Swindon, Wiltshire SN5 3PA
A chance to explore the 17th century walled flower and fruit tree garden and find out more about what food and drink could be made using the herbs and food that was grown there. Site is wheelchair friendly and there is disabled parking and accessible facilities onsite. Assistance dogs are welcome.
Event: 11th September, 11am – 4pm. Details here.
Northern Bloc: The Ice Cream alchemists
Castleton Mill, Castleton Close, Armley, Leeds, West Yorkshire LS12 2DS
Find out how the Northern Bloc ice cream brand was created all within the historic setting of Castleton Mill on the banks of the Leeds Liverpool Canal.
Prebooking is required and will need to be done via email to Sue Jennings, manager@castletonmills.com The site is wheelchair accessible and there are wheelchair accessible facilities.
Event: 10th September, 4.30pm
The Bournville Experience
Linden Road, Birmingham, West Midlands B30 1JR
The Bourneville Experience focuses on the Quaker ethics of the Cadbury family and how Bourneville came to be built. The Bourneville Experience is open as part of Cadbury World and is free to enter. No booking is required, but Cadbury World itself is not taking part in Heritage Open Days, so free entry is only available to the Bourneville Experience.
Site is wheelchair accessible and there is disabled parking and accessible toilet facilties onsite. Assistant dogs are welcome.
Event: 11th September, 9.30 am – 11pm
Find out more about Heritage Action Days and accessible places to visit by visiting here.
